The first contacts date back to 1965, the year when Queen Elizabeth II visited Schwäbisch Hall, during her state visit of Germany. In June 1966 the twinship was formally established with the assistance of our other twin town Epinal.
Let me particularly remind you of some of the early pioneers in twinning, such as Mayor Rodgers, Councillor Moss and your Town Clerk Usher. On the German side it was above all Mayor Hartmann, Deputy Mayor Specht, councillors Eller, Leipesberger, Dr Pfeifer and Herr Walter who initiated and organised the partnership.
Since then thousands of people from Loughborough and Schwäbisch Hall have been to their respective twin towns. From the beginning I have always emphasised that our twinning links with Epinal, Lapeenranta in Finland, Neustrelitz in east Germany and Zamosc in Poland, as well as our relations with Loughborough should be a matter exclusively in the hands of the local administration but rather something for our townspeople, a way of getting to know people from other countries on an informal basis, and in that respect I have always tried to encourage people to take part in such exchanges and visits.
The basic idea behind twinning, after all, is to support and enhance the understanding between nations and their co-existence in peace.
Only a few months ago, after Germany's re-unification, a new era of peace seemed to have begun, and hopes for a peaceful future appeared more realistic than ever.
Today we realise that peace is not only a precious, but also a fragile thing. Not only because of the civil way that is currently raging in Yugoslavia, but also because of the dramatic events in the Soviet Union
during and after the attempted coup, which have made it clear that peace is something which we persistently have to work for.
Despite our relief over the apparently irreversible development towards democracy in Russia the country still seems to be a long way from stability What we are witnessing in Eastern and Western Europe are two fundamentally different, as it were, antagonistic tendencies:
In the east the rise and re-establishment of national states which are seeking independence whereas we in the West stand on the threshold of a united Europe:
In 1993 full economic integration will be achieved But all these long-term developments have taken on a new quality, not only because of the collapse of communism and the end of the Warsaw Pact, but also because of the disintegration of the former soviet empire
Our main concern is to make peace last and, therefore, our endeavour to preserve it must not slacken. The problems that confront us in Europe have by no means been solved. Other conflicts will arise or do already exist. However, war can be no solution to political problems, it simply creates new problems. The suffering it brings is immense whilst political problems remain.
People's characters and attitudes are moulded by the most various influences:
Personal contacts between people of different nationalities which lead to a broader knowledge of other people's customs and so they greatly contribute to preserving peace. What people can do was impressively demonstrated only recently by those unarmed protesters in Moscow who-as living barricades-stood in the way of advancing tanks and stopped them.
Germans are characterised by their good manners, reliability, righteousness, conciliatory nature and their sense of justice. They are peaceful by nature and even against their opponents, anything but spiteful and malicious. They are by and large, trustworthy people; they are honourable people in word and deed."
No, this is by no means self-praise! These highly flattering words were written by an Englishman, Fynes Moryson, who travelled through Germany, but I am afraid to say that this was 400 years ago. His views do not necessarily hold true any longer! On the other hand, Moryson also found rather disagreeable traits among the Germans he met in those days, such as their excessive indulgence in boisterous drinking bouts or their propensity to grave pensiveness, through which they, according to Moryson, used to create an atmosphere of tediousness around them.
What Moryson and his contemporaries did in the 16th century, is likewise required of us at the end of the 20th century. Only by getting to know each other are we able to overcome the dangers of unfounded prejudice.
I believe that in the last 25 years our partnership has contributed greatly to increasing international understanding and thereby to the preservation of peace in Europe. There can be no turning back on the path towards a common Europe. if there were, this would be to the detriment
of one's own country's international standing. What we need is solidarity.
Prejudice would be an obstacle on the road towards a common Europe. Therefore, the young especially must learn to think as Europeans. This is why exchange between schools have always been an important factor in the relations between our towns. Similarly, sports and cultural events have always played a major role. Looking back, I am happy to say that especially in recent years there have been numerous exchanges between school groups, drama groups and orchestras.
In particular I would like to extend my feelings of gratitude to Frau H. Rappold and her work with family exchanges. Where does one learn more about the people of another country but in a family; taking part in their everyday life and it is there that our twinning has led to so many lasting friendships.
It is in this spirit of friendship that I would like to say how thankful I am to all those who have put their endeavour and inspiration to enable our twinning to flourish. May the ties between our towns and their people remain as lively and spirited as always.
Oberburgermeiser Dr Karl Binder, Schwäbisch Hall, 15 Sept 1991
Last updated May 2001